Community Engagement: Public Forums on Campus Modernization and County Education Budgets

• On March 21, Dr. Pollard and Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart led the first in a series of three Community Conversations with Takoma Park and Silver Spring residents, students, and alumni about the College’s construction projects to replace or modernize existing buildings on the East Campus within Takoma Park. The next project slated for construction is a new math-science building along Fenton Street. The events, held at the Takoma Park Community Center (see Note below), allowed the public to learn more about the proposals, provide feedback, and suggest changes.

• In a county tour of five public forums hosted by councilmember Craig Rice on education budget matters, county and MC officials addressed budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2018. The Montgomery County Board of Education, the county executive, and the county council combine forces to craft the MCPS and Montgomery College annual operating budgets. For the third year in a row, the forums sought input from the public on the programs and budgets of the county’s public school system and the community college. The county council adopts its budget in May; it goes into effect July 1.